The Top Three Convertible High Chairs

Want to think outside of the plastic tray? Take a look at these beautifully crafted high chairs that will grow right along with your baby. For inspiration, most of these pieces come from Scandinavian companies that consider comfort, flexibility, and function. This month we’re examining heirloom green products that will last for generations, and these high chairs have both the style and durability to easily fit in that category.

The Svan Convertible High Chair, crafted from Birchwood, will last your child from six months until adulthood. It’s light, stable, and secure. Your child can sit with the wooden tray or just pull up to the table with the other adults. It doesn’t fold, but it is compact, light, and looks like real furniture instead of baby gear.

Designed with growth in mind, The Stokke Tripp Trapp Highchair is fully adjustable, and looks more like a child’s chair than a high chair. It doesn’t have a tray, but it’s simple design allows for the child to pull up to the table and eat just like the grown ups. The bottom step allows for older babies and toddlers to climb into their chairs themselves while babies can be strapped in with the harness.

The simply designed Keekaroo is very similar to the Stokke in design, but costs quite a bit less. Although the base model doesn’t include a tray, you can order one separately. The sturdy frame can accommodate up to 250 pounds, making it possible to use through the teenage years.

If you’re considering the long term function of all that baby gear, these chairs cost about as much or a bit more than a kitchen chair and will provide far more flexibility and resale value. Do you have a favorite adjustable high chair that we failed to mention? Do you own one of these? Have you avoided high chairs altogether? If you’re looking for a wider range of product recommendations, check out our book, The Eco-nomical Baby Guide for an index of green products at every price point—plus tips on how to get the best deals on high quality used baby gear.

Comments

We spent quite a bit on the Stokke Tripp Trapp and wouldn’t do it again. Although adults can also use it, we just don’t. If we were to do it again, I would only get the Phil & Ted’s travel high chair, the metoo, which clamps to a table. It folds up quite small and doesn’t take up the valuable floor space of a high chair.

Yes, I think it’s interesting that these chairs can accommodate an adult. Normal chairs can accommodate an adult . . . so why would we (not to mention a five-year-old or a teenager) choose to sit in a high chair?

Maybe some kids sit in high chairs longer, but we used ours for just about a year and a half--from six months to two years. After that, our daughter just sat in a regular chair, with no booster or anything.

Okay, now that I've said all that, I do think the Keekaroo is really cute! Maybe I'll get one for myself. . . .

The purchase of one of these chairs depends on your perspective. I almost bought a used Stokke Convertible High Chair with my son, but then decided just to go with a small plastic model. It has worked fine for him and my daughter, but the Stokke was so much more beautiful! Also, in the transition from the high chair to the regular chair, I think more noodles were dropped to the floor than would have been with a convertible chair.

It also depends on if you’re having more than one child. With two, you’d most likely get up to ten years out of the chair (at least) and then have the option of selling it.

My friend bought two used Stokke chairs, one for each of her children, and I’m always amazed by how helpful they are when we visit. The kids can sit right up to the table for art time, snack etc, and climb up themselves. When she’s done using them, she’ll sell them and recoup most of her cost. With traditional high chairs, they’re a piece of furniture you use just for a very short period of time and then get rid of. Also, their resale value is quite low.

Do I wish I had one? Yep! We had been gifted with a plastic chair before we discovered the convertible ones and I still look at them with longing. It’s so nice to have beautiful wood in your house instead of vinyl!

Oh yes, I definitely agree that wood high chairs are the way to go! I had a solid wood high chair. It didn’t convert into anything, but that ended up being fine, as Audrey transitioned straight to a normal chair at age 2 (which of course she can get in and out of herself).

I was going to get the Stokke, but found the Handysitt much better because it folds up, so you can take it with you. It is wood and attaches to a chair, so baby is pulled right up to the table! The fact that it travels so well has helped us on vacations and is so simple to set up. My daughter just turned three and is still able to utilize this chair, which is a great value for us!

My hubbie and I found two Stokkes at our local Goodwill for $7.99 each. Needless to say we grabbed one after just seeing it retail for almost $300. Ge has been sanding it down piece by piece (thank goodness it comes apart so easy). We plan on repainting it before our baby is due in November. I’m glad to see it on your list. Hopefully that means it was a good buy afterall. Thanks!

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